Bottle-package.



No. 643,057. Patented Fb'. 6, |900. H. H. HIGHAM.

BOTTLE PACKAGE.

(Application led Feb. 7, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Shaets-Sheet 2.

mi Nonms PETERS G0. Fumo-umm wAsHmnToN, u. c.

Nrnn STATES PATENT rFrcE.

HOWARD Il. IAIIGIIAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOTTLE-PACKAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,057, dated February 6, 1900.

Application letl February 7, 1899. Serial No. 704,852. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD H. HIGHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Bottle-Packages, of which the following is a specication.

One object of my invention is to so construct a bottle-package as to greatly lessen the amount of material required in making the same as compared with such packages made in the usual manner, a further object being to provide for the folding of the package so that it will occupymuch less space when in storage or transportation than when in use. These objects I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a perspective View of my improved bottle-package, showing the same extended or in condition for use. Fig. 2 is a similar perspective View showing the package folded or in condition for storage or transportation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the package in the position shown in Fig. l, and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are Views of other forms of package embodying my invention.

My invention relates to that class of bottle- -packages which are made of pasteboard or stiff paper and which present a series of parallel rows of cells for the reception of the bottles. Usually these cells are as deep as the body of the bottle intended to be placed therein. Hence if the package is intended for receiving long ordeep bottles a large amount of material must be employed in the formation of the cells and the package is correspondingly expensive. In order to avoid this expense, I construct the lpackage with upper and lower cells, separated from each other to the desired extent by means of connecting strips or webs at the ends of the structure, thereby saving a large percentage of the material ordinarily employed, and I preferably score', crease, or otherwise construct these connecting end webs so that they may be folded in line with the upper and lower cellular structures, thereby permitting the folding of the package, so that it will occupy much less room when in storage or transportation than when in use. Y

In the package shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings the upper cellular' structure consists of narrow strips l and 2 of pasteboard or like material, these strips being disposed at right angles to each other and notched and interlocked at the intersections, after the usual manner in bottlepackages of this character. ture consists of narrow right-angled strips 3 and 4, similarly notched and interlocked at the intersectionsand the two structures are maintained at the proper distance apart by means of end strips or webs 5, which are notched at the top and bottom for interlocking with the strips 2 and 4 of the upper and lower structu res, respectively,these end Webs 5 being also scored, notched, or creased transversely, as shown at 6 and 7,- so that they may be folded in line with the top of the lower cellular structure and with the bottom of the upper cellular structure in order to permit the two cellular portions of the package to be folded against each other, as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby lessen the bulk of the package.

When the package is extended, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the cellular structures engage with the upper and lower portions of the bodies of the bottles, as shown in Fig. 3, and are thereby effectually retained by the bottles in their proper :relative positions, it being impossible to collapse the package so long as one bottle remains therein, as said single bottle will serve to retain the upper and lower cellular structures in proper relation to each other.

When it is desired to prevent the bottles from slipping through the package longitudinally, said package may be provided with a bottom sheet 8, on which the bottoms of the bottles may rest and against which may bear any packing material employed when an outer box or case is used, this bottom sheet also serving to very materially increase the stiffness or rigidity of the bottom cellular' structure, and thereby increase the resistance of the package to lateral crushing strain. In some cases I may employ in addition to or in place of this bottom sheet strips 9, crossing the lower cellular structure of the package at a point above the bottom of the same, as shown in Fig. 4. These strips 9 serve to support the bottles free from contact with the surface on which the package rests, thus pro- The lower strucl IOO viding a more or less elastic support for the bottles and lessening the liability to breakage due to the vertical shocks or jars. Any desired construction of end webs may be adopted which will divide said end webs into upper, lower, and intermediate sections connected by hinge-joints, and in large packages one or more similarly-constructed intermediate webs may be employed in addition to the end webs, as shown, for instance, at in Fig. 5.

The use of the slotted and interlocking right-angled strips in the formation of the upper and lower cellular structures, while preferred, is not absolutely necessary to the propel' carrying out of my invention. For instance, said upper and lower cellular structures vmay consist simply of strips or sheets having openings of the proper size formed therein, as shown, for instance, at and ll in Fig. 6, the end webs 5 being secured to or forming part of the upper strip 10 and being attached to the lower strip 1l in any available 1nanner--as, for example, by securing them to flanges l2, formed by bending the ends of said lower strips.

It will be noted that my invention is distinct from that class of knockdown boxes composed of separate pieces intended to be fitted together by the user, as my improved package is completed by the manufacturer and is simply folded to lessen its bulk for transportation or storage.

Having thus described my invention, l claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent- 1. Abottle-package consisting of upper and lower cellular structures and connecting-webs provided with hinge-joints whereby said upper and lower cellular structures may be maintained one above the other or may be folded down one onto the other, substantially as specified.

2. A bottle-package consisting of upper and lower cellular structures located apart from each other, webs for connecting the same provided with hinge-joints, whereby the upper cellular structure can be folded down upon the lower one, and a bottom sheet connected to the lower cellular structure, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IIOWARD II. I-IIGIIAM.

'Vitnesses:

F. E. BECHToLn, Jos. II. KLEIN. 

